2016 Honda Pilot electrical problems
581 of the 1,709 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Pilot name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 111 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 581 reports a crash · 5 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 3 · 2016: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2018: 27 · 2019: 124 · 2020: 104 · 2021: 66 · 2022: 108 · 2023: 46 · 2024: 36 · 2025: 34 · 2026: 11
Half of the 296 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 37,000 and 65,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,709 complaints in all about the 2016 Honda Pilot, 11 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Honda Pilot electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Car is throwing fault codes for transmission, check engine, electrical. The car suddenly goes to "engine limp mode". Hard shifting, shuttering and loss of power. Random occurrences. Has been to dealer 3 times for same issue. Issue occurs from a start or at low speeds 20-35mph while in motion.
Two separate incidents in sacramento, ca where we experienced engine failure with our 2016 Honda pilate elite. The first incident occurred in may 2016 on a busy city street with our three young children in the car.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v668000 (electrical system); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified.
I have 2016 Honda Pilot elite and I noticed that the navigation system gets lost especially when I start the vehicle a start moving. On most occasions it takes about 8 to 10 minutes for it to find itself. I had a 2011 Honda Pilot and from day one it never got lost.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where diagnosed that the alternator and the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 15V668000 ModerateOct 16, 2015 · 35,406 vehicles
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking or electronic stability control malfunctions, there is potential that the instrument panel will not illuminate the corresponding warning light, however the warning lamps will illuminate when the ignition is turned off and then turned back on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".
111 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0087 B121E P0420 U0180 B12C5 P2638 P0716 P0328
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Honda Pilot names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Honda Pilot
Source: the same files- engine problems 816 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 201 complaints
- fuel system problems 189 complaints
- body and structure problems 54 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 581 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (34% of everything owners filed about it), and 111 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 15V668000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 50,000 miles; half of them between 37,000 and 65,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.